Antique Tibetan Phurbas

A phurba or phurpa is an essential ritual tool or ceremonial dagger used by a Tibetan or Nepalese shaman to direct positive energy and battle negative forces. Shaman carve and empower their own wooden ritual weapons after a period of meditation, and then continue to carry and use them throughout their lifetime. Phurbas are rich in sacred and magical symbols and frequently have bindings of thread or fragments of talismanic cloth attached. Many show battle scars and signs of wear and tear, with their wooden tips worn down or broken and later wrapped in metal.

Phurba are made from a variety materials…metal, horn, bone, and wood, the latter being the most common and favoured for protection, healing, and energetic work. Unfortunately, virtually all the phurbas on the market today are modern reproductions, and it’s easy to mistake a fake one for the genuine item. Genuine antique examples are few and far between, and highly prized by Western shamanic practitioners and collectors.

All the phurbas on this website are genuine examples that were personally collected in Nepal over the last 40 years, and chosen for their aesthetic quality and intrinsic interest, as well as their authenticity and cultural significance. They are presented here exactly as found…unrestored and unpolished!